Author: Kanhaiya Kale
Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about resilience. Does it really matter for people starting their careers or those venturing into entrepreneurship? Do we truly understand the meaning of resilience when dealing with challenging situations? How can anyone apply this concept to fight back and overcome obstacles? These questions started swirling in my mind after reading various social media posts and hearing the term frequently in talks and discussions.
I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey right after college, with no clear idea about business or how the market worked. Though I still feel like I’m figuring things out, I’ve learned a lot along the way. This never-ending learning process has taught me many ways to handle situations, and resilience has become a part of my nature, at least to some extent. In the beginning, I had no idea how to start a business. Without overthinking, I began exploring various open-source software. Fortunately, I found a community in Mumbai with a similar mindset, all learning and exploring open-source software together. Slowly, I began to understand the importance of open source, copyright, and copyleft.
Back then, Microsoft dominated the software field with its licensing models. The market was more attracted to such software, while I was inclined towards open-source solutions. I had no idea how a business could be started with open-source software or how one could make a career in it, given its lack of mainstream importance. But sheer belief and strong support from my surroundings helped me stay the course. That journey continues, with many ups and downs requiring resilience to persist despite challenges.
Starting a career or job is like entering a new marriage. Understanding your role and committing to it is crucial. Openness to continuous learning, listening skills, and hard work are essential. There’s no substitute for hard work, and whatever you learn or read will never go to waste. Acceptance of learning is vital. You may face challenges in your career or feel low due to job difficulties, but don’t worry. This is when your patience and perseverance are tested. This tough time will pass, and better days will come. Your resilience will keep you alive and fighting through bad situations.
What is Resilience?
Resilience refers to the ability to withstand, recover, and adapt in the face of adversity, trauma, or stress. It involves bouncing back from difficult situations and emerging stronger and more capable.
Example:
Meet Miss Anu (name changed), a software business owner who invested her life savings into launching a new company. She had been running this company for almost 8-10 years, providing various solutions and services. She had built a good customer base in both the government and private sectors. However, there came a time when her business struggled to earn revenue, leading to significant losses. It became very difficult to sustain the business, retain employees, and even keep current customers. She was suffering greatly, and one day, she decided to shut down the company. It was a major setback for all her partners, employees, and customers. She was completely devastated.
A less resilient person might have given up, feeling defeated and overwhelmed by the impact. However, Anu demonstrated resilience by:
- Assessing the situation and seeking help from her community.
- Pivoting her skills to offer consulting services, as she was having good market sense and domain experience.
- Using the downtime to sharp her skills and improve the knowledge.
- Reopening with a renewed sense of purpose and a stronger consulting services.
Anu’s resilience allowed her to navigate the crisis, adapt to new circumstances, and emerge stronger and more determined than ever. Today, you can see how she is doing well in her consulting business.
In this example, Anu’s resilience was demonstrated through her ability to:
- Absorb the shock of the disaster.
- Recover from the setback.
- Adapt to new circumstances.
- Find opportunities for growth and improvement.
Developing Resilience
Resilience involves a combination of skills, traits, and mindsets, including:
- Grit and determination.
- Flexibility and adaptability.
- Positive thinking and optimism.
- Emotional regulation and self-awareness.
- Social support and networking.
- Learning from failure and setbacks.
By developing these qualities, individuals can build their resilience and better navigate life’s challenges. This is equally applicable to those starting their careers. They are entrepreneurs in their own right, building and progressing in their careers. They will face ups and downs and must demonstrate resilience to see growth.
Another Example:
A newcomer joined Indictrans with a reference from an existing member. Though he didn’t pass our screening, we onboarded him due to his sheer confidence. Training went well, and we assigned him small tasks. Unfortunately, he struggled to perform. Despite multiple warnings and chances, he couldn’t deliver results. Finally, we had a meeting to give him a final warning, with a short timeline to show improvement or face termination.
On the last day, things changed dramatically. He became the best performer in a short time, displaying remarkable knowledge and performance. This transformation was possible due to his perseverance and resilience. Though he is no longer with us, he gave us a powerful example of resilience.
Today, patience levels seem to be at an all-time low. People expect results with minimal effort, but the expectations are high. While many understand the concept of resilience, applying it in real situations comes with experience. New entrants should be patient, gain experience, and acquire the necessary knowledge.
Building Resilience
Building resilience is a continuous process. It involves learning from failures. I know it’s easier said than done, but it is crucial. Build a network of people, socialize, and observe how others deal with various situations. Self-awareness is critical. Share your stories on public platforms and seek opinions. This will give you different perspectives and insights.
Personal Story:
When I was just starting out, there was a particularly tough year when everything seemed to go wrong. We had launched a new product, but it wasn’t gaining traction. I felt like I was on a sinking ship. I remember countless sleepless nights, trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. One evening, after yet another failed pitch to a potential client, I was ready to give up. I used to spend time with my mentor and in networking groups, discussing various challenges. I saw many people who had faced similar struggles. During one of these discussions, I heard words of encouragement and shared experiences that reignited my determination.
We went back to the drawing board, made necessary adjustments to our offerings, and slowly started seeing progress. That experience taught me that setbacks are temporary and can often be the catalyst for innovation and growth. It was my resilience, coupled with support from my network, that helped me push through and eventually succeed.
Let’s aim for new heights with perseverance and resilience. Persistent hard work will lead to continuous and better results.
Author: Kanhaiya Kale